Bugsy and Mugsy
Bugsy and Mugsy is a 1957 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Friz Freleng.[1] The short was released on August 31, 1957, and stars Bugs Bunny, with Rocky and Mugsy.[2] Bugs discovers that two robbers are hiding out on the floor above him, and plays them off against each other.
| Bugsy and Mugsy | |
|---|---|
 Lobby card | |
| Directed by | Friz Freleng |
| Produced by | Edward Selzer |
| Story by | Warren Foster |
| Starring | Mel Blanc |
| Music by |
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| Animation by | |
| Layouts by | Hawley Pratt |
| Backgrounds by | Boris Gorelick |
| Color process | Technicolor |
| Distributed by | |
Release date |
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Running time | 7 min (one reel) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
Bugs has relocated his home due to heavy winter rains; he now lives under the floor of a condemned building. All of a sudden, he hears police sirens, which are followed by a car stopping, and then clambering footsteps. Rocky and Mugsy, two gangsters, burst into the room. They have just committed a jewelry robbery, "all 14-carat". Bugs hears the last word as "carrot", and emerges to see what is happening. He realizes what is going on, and vows to take care of the two while they rest for the night.
First, Bugs takes a candlestick telephone, slips one end near Rocky's ear and whispers from the other end in his hole that Mugsy is not so very trustworthy and is coming up with ideas, until Rocky gets out of the chair and confronts Mugsy, slapping him in the face. Mugsy has no idea what is up.
Next, Bugs sneaks out and places an ax in Mugsy's right hand. Then, in his hole, he whispers through the old phone and informs Rocky that Mugsy is not called "the Detroit Butcher for nothing". Rocky once again confronts Mugsy, seizes the weapon and slices one of the couch's arms cleanly. Mugsy still does not know what is up.
Next, Bugs is in the attic unscrewing the ceiling light over Rocky's head with a screwdriver. Mugsy sees the screws coming loose. Knowing that Rocky will blame him if the light falls on him, he grabs his own screwdriver and a ladder and tries to screw the light back in. But Bugs beats him to it and the light falls right on Rocky, with Mugsy looking as if he did it when Rocky sees him. Mugsy tries to explain, but Rocky kicks him several times in the air.
Next, Bugs switches Rocky's cigarette with a dynamite stick. He walks over to Mugsy and imitates Rocky's voice asking for a light. Mugsy gladly does, and Rocky is blown up. Rocky finally snaps, ties Mugsy up, and shuts him in a corridor bathroom.
Next, Bugs saws a circle around Rocky's chair, only letting him see the tool near the end. Bugs then slips it into Mugsy's hands and hides, while Rocky shoots wildly and confronts Mugsy with some hitting while screaming, "I don't know how ya's done it, but I know ya's done it!!!".
Finally, Bugs pops out from under the floor, unties Mugsy, and puts him up on his feet with a pair of roller skates and a powerful magnet and drags it down with him. Mugsy skates all around Rocky. Then, Bugs and Rocky cause Mugsy to crash from wall to wall. Soon, the police arrive and arrest the crooks. Rocky thinks that it was Mugsy that gave them away to the police (and then begins to mercilessly beat up Mugsy in the police car), but it was actually Bugs, who had put up a neon sign flashing the words "ROCKY'S HIDEAWAY".
See also
References
- Beck, Jerry; Friedwald, Will (1989). Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons. Henry Holt and Co. p. 301. ISBN 0-8050-0894-2.
- Lenburg, Jeff (1999). The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons. Checkmark Books. pp. 60–62. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7. Retrieved June 6, 2020.